Duerom

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct geranium plant known by the cultivar name Duerom is characterized by a new color, dark foliage with zonation, very good durability under outdoor summer conditions, and a great number of large umbels with many flowers.

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name Duerom.

Duerom is a product of planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new geranium cultivars with a new kind of color, robustfoliage and umbel.

Duerom was originated from a hybridization made in a controlled breedingprogram in Rheinberg, Federal Republic of Germany in 1983/84. The femaleparent was an unnamed seedling. The male parent of Duerom was an unnamedseedling.

Duerom was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Guenter Duemmen in 1985 in a controlledenvironment in Rheinberg.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Duerom was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in July, 1985in a controlled environment in Rheinberg by a technician working underformulations established and supervised by Guenter Duemmen.Horticultural examination of selected units initiated in October, 1985has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Duerom are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Duerom has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Rheinberg under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Duerom which in combination distinguish thisgeranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. New kind of color;

2. Dark foliage with zonation;

3. Very good durability under outdoor summer conditions;

4. Great number of big umbels with many flowers.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor none arebelieved to be similar in comparison to Duerom.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of Duerom with colors being as true as possible withillustrations of this type.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 10.00-14.00 on Oct. 12, 1988 under natural light conditions atRheinberg.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium zonale cv. Duerom.

Commercial.--Geranium.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Umbel:

Average diameter.--9.5-11 cm.

Average depth.--5.5-6.5 cm.

Peduncle length.--16.5-18 cm.

Pedicel length.--2.5-3.5 cm.

B. Corolla:

Average diameter.--4 cm.

Form.--Semi-double.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--R.H.S. 68D.

Color (abaxial).--R.H.S. 68A.

Color (adaxial).--R.H.S. 69B.

C. Bud:

Shape.--Elliptic.

Color (abaxial).--R.H.S. 69A.

Color (adaxial).--R.H.S. 62D.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Fertil, obdiplostemon, centrifugal dedouplement.

Gynoecium.--5-lobed stigma. pubescent, 5 carpels, coenocarp, hypogyn.

E. Spring flowering response period:

FRG.--50% of plants with at least one flower open 13 weeks after stickof unrooted cuttings.

F. Outdoor flower production: Very good.

G. Durability: Very good.

PLANT

A. Foliage:

Form.--round.

Margin.--bicrenated, Type 1.

Color (abaxial).--R.H.S. 137C.

Color (adaxial).--R.H.S. 138B.

Color (zonation).--R.H.S. 137B.

Tolerance of botyrtis.--good.

B. General appearance and form:

Internode length.--Medium.

Branching pattern.--Good.

Height.--Medium -- high.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium known asDuerom, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized bya new color, dark foliage with zonation, very good durability underoutdoor summer conditions, and a great number of large umbels with manyflowers.